HHS Posts Guidance on De-identification of PHI

The
Office of Civil Rights released guidance Monday regarding methods for
de-identification of protected health information (PHI) in accordance with the
HIPAA Privacy Rule. This guidance is intended to assist covered
entities understand what is
de-identification, the general process by which de-identified information is
created, and the options available for performing de-identification.

The
guidance, posted on the Department of Health and Human Services' website, explains the 2 methods that can
be used to satisfy the Privacy Rule's de-identification standard—Expert
Determination and Safe Harbor—using a question-and-answer format and provides a
glossary of terms related to de-identification.

APTA's
Health Information Technology (HIT) webpage provides resources and updates
on HIT program development and legislation, in addition to APTA's efforts with
federal policymakers to educate them as to the importance of including physical
therapists in HIT initiatives moving forward.